Weeder



G. H. SHEARD WEEDER I Jan. 6, 1931.

Filed Jan. 14 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l lll G. H. sHEARD 1,788,360

" WEEDER Filed Jan. l4 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 6, 1931 y i USN-irse' STATES GEORGE H. SHEARD, OF ATHENA, vOREGON WEEDE'R application flied January 14, 193e. serial 110,420,764. v

This invention relates to weeders or cultivators, and has for an object the provision of novel means'whereby w-eeder blades are mounted `on a rotary element arranged'to successively present and hold the blades in operative relation to the soil being cultivated. When the machine is used and one set of blades is operating, the said blades will become fouled through the accumulation of vegetation, such as weeds, or the like.V When the foregoing condition occurs, means are provided for partially rotating the blade carriers in order that blades just in use and the function impaired by fouling will be lifted out of operative position and another blade or set of blades moved into operative position, it being understood that means are provided for holding'the rotating member carrying th-e blades at different positions of adjustment, whereby the rotating memberl is released when the positions of the blades are to be changed. Y A l It is a further-'object of this invention to provide novel means whereby the rotative member is moved to change the positions of the different blades; and it is furthermore an object to provide novel means whereby thev fouled blades are vibratedthrough their being struck by what may be termed akicker,

as the positions of the blades are being shifted. Y

It Vis a still furtherobject of this Vinvention to provide novel means wherebythe frame ofthe machine is held'at differentV whereinlike `characters denote correspond.

ing parts in the several views, and in which- Figure l illustrates-a View in side eleva-1V tion of a machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a detailed view, show-k ing the means for holdingrthe blades atdiff` ferent positions;

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view ofthe machine; f fr Figure 4 illustrates a sectional view thereof, omitting parts of the frame and the traction wheels; and

Figure 5 illustrates a'view in elevation, patly in section, showing the details of the ax e.

ln these drawings, l0 denotes a reotanguv lar frame which is supported by a main beam which, in the present embodiment, is formed by two channelirons 11 and'lQ having the edges of their flanges abutting and secured bysuitable clamps, generally identified by the numeral 13, which clamps also,` in the present embodiment of theinvention act to secure the arms vlll of the blades l5 to the said beam.

The beam also has secured to it a plurality' of arms 16 having braces`l7 attached to the beam and to the said arms'and theserconstitute what may be termed walkers, in that their ends are intended to engage the ground and, as the machine `is moved, they cause theL rotation of the beam for changing theV posi* tions of .thefblades for the purposes hereto'- fore set forth. The arms are successively or selectively engaged by a latchl plate l18 which is slidable in a guide 19 secured to the frame in any appropriate way and the latch may be moved into and out of the zone of movement of the arms through the manipulation of a lever 20 conneetedto they said llatch and mounted on a pivot`2l, supported by an arm 19a. The lever is under Vcontrol of 'a spring 22suitably anchored to hold thelever in one position of adjustment, it being understood that the leverA shall be manually operated against thel action of the' spring when the position ofthe latch is tobechanged with l relation to the path oftravel ofthe arms.

The frame is'providedfwith asegmental apertured plate 23, and a .crank shaftaor l wheel spindle 24C carries an apertured varml whose aperture is intended to register with any one of the apertures of thevplate for thev reception of a pin for holdingtherarms at different `adjustments with relation tothe ieu plate. By this means the angle of the Wheel spindle may be adjusted with relation to the beam for holding the frame in a more or less elevated position, according to the desires of the user. By this means the ends of the Walkers are properly positioned with relation to the ground on Which the traction Wheels are running. It is shown in the draiving that an extension 25 of the. member 24 projects int-o the beam and the interior of the beam may be providedwith filling blocks or the like, as shown at 27, for receiving the end 26 of the member 24, and the parts may be held assembled by a collar '23 on the said extension 26 held by a'suitable set screw 29. In order that the blades may be successively struck and vibrated for the purpose of dislodging deposits Vfrom them, a kicker is mounted in operative relation to the said blades. In the present embodiment of the said kicker, three metallic plates, 30, 3l

and 32 are connected together, the plate 32 leaves the ground and is revolved-toward the elevated position, the blade will engage the inner end of the member 30and elevate it Y against 'the Vaction of tliefspring 33 and, as

the blade continues to move upwardly, the tension of thezspring 33 is increased, Hence, when the bladeV has lifted the inner end of the member 3() and traveled a predetermined distance, the inner end of the member 30 will be disengaged and the actionr of the spring Will then cause the kicken to rotate` on its Y pivot 34 so that the inner end of the plate 3l moves downwardly and strikes the blade With such force as to dislodge accumulated dirt or other substances from the blade. The violence of the shock imparted by the stroke of the member 31 on the blade may be determined by the strength of the spring 33.

As a description ofthe functions ofthe several parts of the device has been stated in connection with acdescription of the said parts and their relation to other parts, a descriptive rsum of the operation of the ina.- chine as a Whole is believed. unnecessary foi an understanding of the invention by. one skilled in .theart. Y i I I claim: 5

1. In aiveeder`,fa transversely'mounted beam, i vvliee'ls carrying the beam, arms mounted `on opposite sides of the beam,

blades on said arms, Walker-arms on the beam ladapted to successively engage ground beingV cultivatedl for .intermittently turning the The spring` is intended to operate Y dislo dging deposits.

beam to cause the blades to successively assume operative positions, means for holding the beam in its different positions, and means for striking the blades successively for removing deposits therefrom.

2. In a Weeder, a transversely mounted beam, Wheels carrying the beam,y .arms mounted on opposite sides of the beam, blades onrsaid arms, Walker-arms on the beam adapted to successively engage ground being cultivated for intermittently turning the beam to cause the blades to successively assume operative positions, a latch for engaging the Walker-arms successively for holding the beam in its Vdifferent positions, and means for striking the blades successively .for removing deposits therefrom.

3. In a Weeder, a

mounted on opposite sides of the beam, blades on said arms, walker-arms on the beam adapted to successively engageground being' culti,- vated for-intermittently turning the beam to cause the blades to successively assume operative positions, means for holding the beam' 4.V In a Weeder, .a transversely mounted beam, Wheels carrying the beam, arms 'mounted on opposite'lsides of the beam, blades on said arms, Walker-armson the beam ,adaptedr to successivelyV engage ground being cultivated for intermittently turning the beamfto cause the bladesl to successively assume operatranjsversely mounted beam, Wheels carrying the beam, .armsy tive positions, means for holding/the beam iny its different positions, amember'oscillatively mounted to'be engaged by the blades successively, anielement on the memberprojecting in the path of travel of the blades adapted to strike the blades successively for remov-` ing deposits therefrom, and means for exerting forceA on the said member and element for causing the element to strike the bladesfor 5.V In 'a Weeder, a transversely Vmounted beam, `Wheels carrying the beam, arms mounted onopposite'sides of the beam, blades on saidk arms,vvalkerarmson the beam adapted to successively engage Vground being cultivated for intermittently turning the beam to cause the blades to successively assume operative posit-ions, means for holding the beam in its diiferent posit-ions, a plate oscillatively mounted to be engaged bythe blades successively, a plate onthe first mentioned-plate projecting in the 'path of travel ofthe blades and adapted-to strike the blades successively for removing deposits therefrom, andmeans for exerting force on the said plates for cau'sing the second mentioned plate to strike the blades for dislodging deposits;

6; In a Weeder, aV transversely mounted beam, said beam comprising channel irons having the edges of their flanges abutting, arms mounted on opposite sides of the beam, clamps for `holding the sections of the beam and the arms assembled, blades on said arms,

walker-arms on the beam adapted to successively engage ground being cultivated for in termit-tently turning the beam to cause the blades to successively assume operative positions, means for holding the beam in its different positions, and means for striking the blades successively for removing deposits therefrom.

GEORGE H. SHEARD. 

